Vol. XVI, pp. 121-122 September 30, 1903 



PROCEEDINGS 



OF THE 



BIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



A NEW PIGMY SQUIRREL FROM CENTRAL 



AMERICA. 



BY E. W. NELSON. 



Although several squirrels belonging to the subgenus Micro- 

 sciurus have been described they have all been based upon a 

 very limited number of specimens. The rarity of these 

 animals in recent collections from the region in which they 

 occur makes it appear that they are either rare or extremely shy. 

 Collectors visiting Central or northern South America should 

 make special effort to obtain small squirrels, since the few speci- 

 mens of MicroschiTus already in existence show an unexpectedly 

 large number of species with apparently rather restricted 

 ranges. I am indebted to the generosity of Mr. Oldfield 

 Thomas, Curator of Mammals of the British Museum, for the 

 opportunity to describe the following species. 



Sciurus (Microsciurus) boquetensis, sp. nov. 



Chiriqui Pigmy Squirrel. 



y^pe.— Adult female, No. 3.3.3.38, British Museum. Collected at 

 Boquete (alt. 6000 ft.), Chiriqui, Panama, May 7, 1903, by H. J. Watson. 

 Original number 93. 



32— Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. Vol. XVI, 1903. (121) 



